Snow thrower of the powered auger type



Dec. 23, 1969 s. c. HETH ET AL SNOW THROWER OF THE POWERED AUGER TYPEFiled April 1.7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet l lNl/E N 70/25 I VERNON R. KAUFMANSHERMAN C. HETH LYLE G. MUNSON A T TO/QNE) Dec. '23, 1969 5, c, HETH ETAL 3,484,963

SNOW THROWER OF THE POWERED AUGER TYPE Filed April 1.7, 1968 4Sheets-$heet 2 VZNIKENTOR$= VERNON R. "KAUFMAN SHERMAN c. HE TH LYLE G.MUNSON A 7' YO/P/VE Y 3. 1969 s. c. HETH ET Al.-

SNOW THROWER OF THE POWERED AUGER TYPE Filed April 17, 1968 4Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEV Dec. 23, 1969 5 c, HETH ET AL snow THROWER OFTHE POWERED AUGER TYPE Filed April 1,7, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS:MR. KAUFMAN 5. C. HETH 7 TO/QNEK United States Patent US. C]. 37-43 16Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A snow thrower has a frame supportinga prime mover and rotatably supporting an auger. A housing encloses theauger and has a chute for directing the discharge of the auger away fromthe snow thrower. The auger, and other parts including the auger housingand the chute, are formed of a lightweight and high-strength and durableplastic material. The auger is formed with a large cylindrical baseportion and with auger flights extending from the base portion, and withthe auger being of two identical halves longitudinally of the auger. Theauger includes end walls extending radially beyond the base portion, andit includes two diametrically oppositely dis posed impeler portions,with auger flights extending between the end walls and the impellers. Ahandle is provided for steering and lifting the snow thrower, and wheelsare attached for moving the snow thrower over the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a powered snowthrower, and, more particularly, it relates to a small type snow throwerwhich can be easily maneuvered and which can even be easily lifted foroperating on porch steps, porches, elevated places and places which areusually inaccessible to large and heavy snow throwers. This applicationis a continuation-in-part of US. patent application Ser. No. 666,114,filed Sept. 7, 1967.

Snow throwers known heretofore are generally large and heavy, if theyare provided with a pick-up auger and a discharger chute for directingthe snow away from the thrower. Generally, these prior art throwers aredifficult to maneuver in operation, and they are clumsy and difficult tostore. It will of course be appreciated that it is desirable to have asnow thrower which can be moved into small spaces, and which can beplaced on porch steps or the like even while the thrower is operating,without endangering the operator or the snow thrower.

The aforementioned features are accomplished by means of making the snowthrower anger of a length greater than one foot, so the thrower is of asubstantial capacity. Also, the entire snow thrower is lightweight, andit is compact and balanced. These features are achieved by making manyof the snow thrower parts, including the auger, of a plastic material.To construct a snow thrower of plastic material and have it operateefliciently and to also have it durable, was commonly deemed to be anunlikely and an unobvious feat. However, the snow thrower made accordingto the disclosure of this invention has been found to be highlysuccessful both from an operational standpoint and from acommercialization standpoint.

Therefore, according to prior knowledge of snow thrower construction,sno'w throwers have been made of heavy and bulky metal parts. Also, theycommonly have a small diameter base cylinder with a number of flightconvolutions extending along the base cylinder and occasionally to animpeller on the auger for discharging the See p snow into a chute. Inthose prior art throwers where the auger base portion is of a largediameter so that its radius is greater than the extent of the flights onthe base portion, then there are the great number of flight convolutionsto extend from one end of the auger to a centrally located impeler, Inall these instances, the auger is required to rotate at a high speed, issubjected to great force exerted by the snow and the speed of rotation,and the entire unit is bulky and heavy so that it is not portable in thesense of being able to conveniently and easily lift it to porch stepsand the like as can be done with the snow thrower described herein.

Further, the plastic material used in the snow thrower parts, will notrust, dent, chip or shatter, as many metal parts will do, particularlywhen the metal parts are exposed to the moisture conditions of workingin snow. Also, moisture, gas, and oil, will not damage the plastic partswhich are inert to these foreign subsances. Also, because of the plasticparts and housings, the parts will not conduct electricity, and this issignificant for both the gasoline powered and the electric motor poweredsnow thrower.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of asnow thrower embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the snow thrower.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the snow thrower, and showing it ona reduced scale and with certain parts not shown.

FIG. 4 is a view of the internal parts of the snow thrower, with partsthereof broken away.

FIG. 5 is a right-side elevational view of FIG. 4, with parts addedthereto and broken away.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the auger and the auger trough orhousing, with parts broken away and partly shown in section.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal plan view of one-half of the auger.

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of FIG. 7, on a reduced scale.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of FIG. 8, with a part broken away.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments The snow thrower is ofthe power type, and it includes handles 10 and 11, a rotatably mountedauger 12, and an auger housing 13, a discharge chute 14, and covers orhousings generally designated 16. FIG. 4 shows the gasoline engine 17,which is a prime mover, in driving relation with the auger 12 by meansof the chain 18. Thus the engine crank shaft 19 carries a sprocket 21,and the auger 12 has a sprocket 22 secured to the bearing housing 23 byconventional and suitable means, such as bolts indicated at 24.Therefore the sprocket 22 and anger 12 rotate in unison, as they aredriven by the prime mover 17 through the chain 18.

The auger 12 includes the base cylinder 26 and the auger flights 27.Thus rotation of the auger 12 will cause pick-up of snow, and it willalso cause the impelling of the snow out of the housing 13 and throughthe chute 14, and this impelling is by means of the paddles 28 includedin the auger flights. FIG. 5 shows the auger housing 13 includes therearwardly disposed cylindrical portion 29 spaced immediately adjacentthe tips of the auger flight 27 An outlet portion 31 of the housing 13is in snowflow communication with the auger portion 29, so snow isimpelled up the cylindrical outlet 31 as desired. Finally, the chute 14is in flow communication with the portion 31, and is swivelable on theportion 31 so that the chute 14 will direct the. snow away from thethrower and prefera bly either forwardly or to the left or right side. Acontrol 3 handle or the like 32 on the chute 14 permits the operator torotate the chute 14 on the outlet portion 31 for throw directiondesired.

The housing 13 also has side or end pieces 33 and 34. It also has a lip36 which may be detachable and separately provided for extending alongthe curved piece 29 and for engaging the ground or being disposed atleast near the ground in the operation of the snow thrower. In actualmanufacture, it is desirable to make the housing parts described, and toeven make the auger 12, of a plastic material so that its both durableand light weight, as well as having other advantages. Thus the piece 36can be made of a metal material appropriate for serving as the forwardlip in the advance of the snow thrower along the ground. Also, twowheels 37 are rotatably mounted on the housing ends 33 and 34,respectively, for mobilizing the snow thrower during operation.

It will therefore be noticed that the handle portion 11 has hand-gripmeans 38 for pushing and steering the snow thrower in operation thereof.Also, the handle portion 10 has hand-grip means 39 which are availablefor lifting the snow thrower either for transporting it or forcontrolling it during operation such as when the operator has one handon the grip 38 and another hand on the grip 39 and is standing to theside of the snow thrower. This may be when the snow thrower is beingused on a step or small porch or any other similar structure.

FIGS. 4 and show a cross frame piece 41 extending between the primemover 17 and the auger 12 and providing the mounting and support forthese two parts. That is, a bracket 42 and a bracket 43 are suitablysecured to the frame 41 by means of bolts, such as the bolt 44, and thebrackets 42 and 43 extend to the prime mover 17 and are bolted theretofor supporting the prime mover 17 in a fixed position with respect tothe frame piece 41. Also, brackets 46 and 43 are shown bolted to theopposite ends of the frame piece 41, and these brackets 46 and 43 extendupwardly and provide a means for mounting the handles, such as thehandle portion 10, which are secured by the bolts 48 and the like.

Finally, brackets 49 and 51 are also bolted to the opposite ends of theframe piece 41 and extend forwardly thereof and provide the rotatablemounting for the auger 12. That is, a shaft 52 extends between thebrackets 49 and 51 and through the auger 12, as an auger shaft but beingfixed or nonrotatable in the arrangement shown. Bearings 53 are pilotedon the dead shaft 52 and the bearings are shown bolted to the auger ends54 and 56, by means of bolts 57 so that the bearing outer housing shownwill rotate with the auger body 26, as desired.

Thus the shaft 52 provides the desired spacing between the brackets 49and 51 at the forwardly extending portion of these brackets, and screws60 secure the shaft 52 to the brackets 49 and 51. This arrangementpresents only a minimum of strain on the auger proper, and it permitsthe auger 12 to be made of a plastic material and light weight so thatit can be maneuvered and operated for the purposes mentioned herein.

Thus the frame means, including the brackets described, provided thedesired spacing and relative location of the prime mover 17 and theauger 12. FIG. 5 shows that the axis of the auger 12, and designated Xin FIG. 5, lies along a plane defined by line B, which plane also liesalong the handle means 10. The axis or center of gravity of the primemover 17, and the axis or center of gravity being designated Y, lies onthe line defined by the length direction of the brackets 43 and 51. Thisline is designated A, and it is close to, if not on, being coincidentwith the line or plane B. Thus the handle portion extends on a plane onwhich the prime mover 17 is also located. Also, the grip portion 39 ofthe handle portion 10 is adjacent the prime mover 17. This is all forthe purpose of providing an easily lifted and maneuvered snow thrower.

FIG. 5 also shows, along with FIGS. 1 and 2, that the auger housing ends33 and 34 have a fiat supporting edge 59 which is disposed on a planedesignated F, and this plane may be referring to the floor. That is, theedges 59 would rest along a floor or the plane F, and the entire throwerwould be balanced and can stand in that position. This is true since theplane F is transverse to the plane A which defines the plane extendingthrough the center of gravity of at least the bulk of the snow thrower,as mentioned.

Of course with this elongated arrangements of parts described, that iswith the engine and the auger extending substantially straight off fromthe handle means, the snow thrower could also be hung in a verticalposition and occupy only a minimum of space against a wall or the likeon which it may be hung.

It is further significant to notice that the wheels 37 have their axesdesignated Z imposed on a plane designated C which is shown upright inFIG. 2 and which therefore extends between the auger axis X and thecenter of gravity designated Y with regard to the prime mover 17.Therefore, the wheels 37 are only two in number, but they are arrangedfor optimum balancing of the thrower with a portion of the throwerextending forwardly of the wheels and with a portion of the throwerextending rearwardly of the wheels, both with respect to the verticalplane C extending through the axes of the wheels 37. Of course the loweredges of the wheels extend below the auger lowest housing edge 61, shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, so the wheels 37 will support the entire snow throweron the ground in a mobile position, when the snow thrower is disposed atthe operative positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

An important feature of the frame, including the rearwardly andforwardly extending brackets, is both to provide and maintain themounting and relationships of spacing and stability between the primemover and the auger. A fixed spacing between the prime mover and auger,as assured by this frame means, provides proper tensioning andadjustment of the drive from the prime mover to the auger, for bothnormal and shock conditions. Of course the prime mover may also be anelectric motor powered by a source remote from the unit itself andhaving an extension cord extending thereto, much in the manner ofrunning electric motors to mobile implements, such as lawn mowers. Theelectric motor shaft would be in a position of the engine shaft 19, andit would also be mounted on the brackets 42 and 43.

Auger 12 is shown to have its end walls 54 and 56 extend both radiallyinwardly and radially outwardly with respect to the cylindrical baseportion 26. Further, there are actually only four flights 27, and eachflight extends from the radially outer extent of the respective end wall54 or 56, to the respective one of the two paddles or impellers 28,which are diametrically oppositely disposed on the base portion 26.Further, the radius of the base portion 26 is greater than the radialextent of the flights 27 from the base portion 26. This entirearrangement provides for an eflicient auger which can engage the snowfor the entire length of the auger 12, that length being the swath ofthe auger 12, and impel the snow around the auger trough or housing 29and through the opening 63 in the auger housing 13. Of course theopening 63 is aligned with the paddles or impellers 28 which thereforedischarge directly into the chute 31, and no additional blower orimpeller is required. The principle wherein each flight 27 extends tothe respective end of the auger base portion 26, and where the flightsextend only halfway around the base portion 26 between the radial extentof the respective end walls 54 or 56 and the impeller 28, results in theefficiency of the auger since it does not require more than one-halfauger revolution to place the snow in position for discharge through theopening 63.

The auger 12, auger trough or housing 13, chute or deflector 14, andhousings 16, and even the wheels 37, can all be made of a durable,high-strength, plastic material. Such material is a high density linearpolyethylene, to have a medium tensile strength and a high impactstrength with good resilience. By the use of the plastic, the entiresnow thrower can be made to weigh only twenty-eight pounds.

FIG. '4 shows the bearing housing 23 to be a side plate extending fromthe shaft 52, or from the bearing 53, t the radially outer location onthe auger base portion 26 at the point of the rivets or bolts 57. Thusthe auger end walls 54 and 56 provide strength on the ends of the baseportion 26 as they are integral with the base portion 26, and the sideplates 23 are arranged to provide additional strength for the ends ofthe auger 12.

FIG. further shows that the wheels 37 will be disposed slightly inadvance of the scraper bar 36, which is of metal preferably, and thewheels therefore negotiate ground bumps before the scraper bar 36 getsto them, which is as desired.

FIG. 6 shows that the auger housing 13 has openings 64 through which thebrackets 49 and 51 project for connecting the dead shaft 52, by means ofthe screws 60 on each end of the shaft 52, as shown in FIG. 4. Thehousing 13 is then secured to the brackets 49 and 51 by means of bolts66 and 67. The bolts 67 also carry spacer pins or members 68, whichserve as bolt nuts, and which are preferably made of a low frictionmaterial such as plastic nylon, and the pins '68 and the pin 69 on theleft side in FIG. 6, project toward the side plates 70 and 71, whichplates are the bearing housing or members 23, as previously described.The pins 68 and 69 therefore serve as axial spacers for the auger 12with respect to the frame frame brackets 4-9 and 51.

FIGS. 6 through 9 show an embodiment of the auger 12 wherein the augeris made in two longitudinal halves 73 and 74. Thus it will be seen andunderstood that the auger halves 73 and 74 are identical, and they canbe readily molded of the plastic desired, and they therefore present ahollow interior, with a cylindrical base portion 76 and with the twoauger flights 77 and 78, on each of the two halves. Connecting means,such as rivets 79, extend between the two halves for securing themtogether in the desired cylindrical form. Also, connecting means, suchas rivets or bolts 81 extend between mating portions of the auger halvesand axially thereof for securing the auger halves together at thelocation of their end plates 82 and 83. FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show how theauger halves are mated together at their end walls 82 and 83, and itwill be seen that each auger half has a projection 84 which is receivedin an opening 86 in the other auger half. Holes 87 and 88 extend throughthe pieces 84 and the projecting auger wall 83, and these holes alignand receive the rivet or bolt 81.

Additional mating projections and holes are provided on the augerhalves, for aligning the halves and securing them together. Thusprojections or plugs 89 are received in holes on the correspondingportion of the opposite half, such as the hole 91 shown in FIGS. 8 and9. Certain of the rivets 79 then extend through the openings 92 in theplugs 89, for securing the auger halves together. Likewise, plugs 93extend on the respective auger halves in the area of the paddle orimpeller 28, and these plugs are made with holes 94 on the oppositeauger half. Again, rivets 79 extend through holes 96 in the plugs 93 forsecuring the auger halves together in the area of the impellers 28.

FIG. 8 shows that the impellers 28 extend radially of the augerlongitudinal axis, rather than tangetially thereto, so the angers arereadily made in the identical halves described, and the impellers 28 aremost efficient in moving the snow around the auger trough or housingportion 29 and up the opening 63. FIGS. 8 and 9 further show the augerend wall 54 extending radially inwardly, as well as it extends radiallyoutwardly to the limit of the radially outer extent of the auger flight77, Which is integrally merged therewith. The wall 54 has an inneropening 97, through which the shaft 52 will pass, and FIG. 8 shows theend wall extending portion 82 projecting to the radial limit of theauger flight 27, as mentioned.

FIG. 8 also shows holes 98 in the auger end walls, and' these holesreceive the screws or fasteners 57 connecting the end plates 23, whichare also identified as plates 71. FIG. 6 shows a U-shaped spring clip 99extending over the inner edge of the auger wall 56, and the clip relatesto the screw fastener 57 by means of the common tinnerman screwconnection.

FIG. 9 shows the interior of each auger half 73 and 74 may be providedwith bearing walls 101 and 102 which are integral on the interiorcylindrical surface of the respective halves. and are spaced therealong,as shown. The walls have openings 103 for snugly receiving the shaft'52, and they thereby provide a support for the auger assembly 12 on theshaft '52, in addition to the support provided by the auger end wallsand support plates described. Thus the openings 103 snugly receive theshaft to pilot the :auger 12 on the shaft 52, along the axial length ofthe shaft 52 and the auger 12.

It will thus be seen that the longitudinal plane along the auger 12extends between the impeller sections 28 on each diametrically oppositeside of the auger 12, so that each impeller 28 is divided into twosections which can be bolted together to form one impeller 28 on eachdiametrically opposite side of the auger 12.

Also, it will be appreciated that the auger arcuate housing portion 29extends forwardly of the snow thrower, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, whilethe chain 18 extends through an opening in the portion 29 such as theopening 64 which receives the frame bracket 51.

The linear polyethylene is a Marlex 5012 plastic, characterized by: atensile strength of 3800 p.s.i. (ASTM D638-58T); a 40 percent elongationin 20 minutes (ASTM D638-58T); an impact strength of one footpound perinch on a /2 x A bar at the notch (ASTM D25 6-56); and 55 hours crackingresistance with a brittleness temperature of degrees below.

What is claimed is:

1. In a powered snow thrower, including a prime mover, a rotatablymounted snow pick-up auger being axially horizontally disposed, drivemeans operatively connected between said prime mover and said auger forrotating the latter, an auger trough extending along and arcuatelyaround a portion of said auger and terminating therebelow in ahorizontally disposed edge, a snow discharge chute in snow-flowcommunication with said auger, a handle for control of the snow thrower,a frame providing an interconnection for at least some of the aforesaidelements, the improvement comprising said entire snow thrower being ofminimum weight for easy maneuverability and for easy manual lifting bythe operator, and accomplished by the features of: said auger being of alight-weight and durable plastic material and including flights foraxially moving the snow and including an impeller centrally disposed onsaid auger for throwing the snow into and through said chute, said augerincluding end walls integrally disposed transverse to the axis of saidanger on axially opposite ends of said auger, bearing means including anextended outer support plate attached to each of said end walls forrotatably mounting said auger, support bracket means included in saidframe and extending adjacent each said support plate, mounting meansoperatively connected between said support bracket means and saidbearing means for rotatably supporting said auger, a rotation drivemember affixed to one said support plate, and said drive means beingoperatively connected to said rotation drive member for the rotation ofsaid auger.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said auger includes acylindrical base portion and auger flights extending radially outwardlyon said base portion, said cylindrical base portion being of a radiusgreater than the 7 radial extent of said flights from said cylindricalbase portion.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein said end walls extend radiallyoutwardly and radially inwardly from said cylindrical base portion andwith the outward extent being disposed to form a continuation of saidauger flights, and with the inward extent being disposed to terminateadjacent said axis of said auger for strength of said auger and formounting of each said support plate.

4. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes ashaft stationarily mounted on said support bracket means for rotatablysupporting said auger, the rotation bearing portion of said bearingmeans being interposed between said shaft and each said support plate.

5. The subject matter of claim 4, wherein said auger includes acylindrical base portion and anger flights extending radially outwardlyon said base portion, said end wall extending radially inwardly fromsaid cylindrical base portion and into the cross-sectional area of saidcylindrical base portion to a location adjacent said shaft.

6. The subject matter of claim 5, wherein said auger consists of twolongitudinal halves secured together to present a single cylindricalauger, additional walls integrally extending on said auger and radiallyinwardly along the axial length of said auger and adjacent said shaftfor piloting said auger with respect to said shaft.

7. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said auger consists of twolongitudinal halves secured together to present a single cylindricalauger, each said support plate being metal and extending across thejuncture between said halves and being afiixed to each of said halvesfor reinforcing and securing said halves together.

8. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said auger trough and saiddischarge chute are both constructed of a light-weight and durableplastic material, and said chute is aflixed to said auger trough.

9. The subject matter of claim 8, including a metal scraper bar afiixedto said horizontally disposed edge of said plastic trough and extendingtherefrom for sliding over the surface on which said snow thrower isbeing operated.

10. The subject matter of claim 9, including a pair of ground wheelsrotatably operatively supported on said trough at opposite ends thereofand on a common axis disposed on a vertical plane in advance of saidscraper bar when said scraper bar is closest to the surface on whichsaid snow thrower is operating.

11. The subject matter of claim 8 wherein said support bracket means iselongated and extends from adjacent said prime mover to a respectiveaxial end of said auger, said auger trough includes a semi-cylindricallyshaped body portion and an end wall on each end of said body portion andextending across the respective end of said auger to partly enclose thelatter and with each said end wall of said auger trough being attachedto said support bracket means, said body portion of said auger troughhaving an opening therein adjacent each said end wall of said augertrough for the extension of said support bracket means through saidopenings.

12. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said rotation drive member isa sprocket, and including a drive sprocket on said prime mover, andwherein said drive means is a drive chain trained on both said sprocketsfor rotating said auger.

13. The subject matter of claim 12, wherein said auger trough extendsacross the plane extending from said prime mover to said auger, and saidauger trough having openings therein for the extension of said drivechain between said sprockets.

14. The subject matter of claim 1, including a spacer pin attached tosaid support bracket means and extending toward said auger for spacingsaid auger with respect to said support bracket means.

15. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said auger is of an axiallength greater than one foot, and the entire said snow thrower weighsless than fifty pounds.

16. In a powered snow thrower of the type including an anger and ananger housing and a snow discharge chute, said auger including a baseportion of a cylindrical shape, a plurality of spiral auger flightsaflixed to the circumference of said base portion and extending radiallytherefrom and along the length of said base portion from the endsthereof to the center of the length of said base portion, two snowimpellers affixed to diametrically opposite sides of said base portionintermediate said flights at said center and extending radially fromsaid base portion for impelling snow into said chute and subsequentlyaway from said snow thrower, upon rotation of said auger, and end wallson each end of said auger and extending transverse to the longitudinalaxis of said auger and radially beyond said base portion and definingthe snow-cutting swath of said auger, the improvement comprising each ofsaid end walls having two radially extending portions on diametricallyopposite sides of said base portion and aligned with said impellerslongitudinally of said base portion, said flights being four in totalnumber and each respectively extending along and only halfway aroundsaid base portion from a respective end of said impellers to respectiveones of said portions of said end walls at locations diametricallyopposite the respective ones of said impellers, all said flights and allsaid impellers having their radially inner ends in full contact with thecircumference of said base portion, and all said flights and all saidimpellers and all said end walls all having their radially outer endsextending to and terminating at the same common distance from saidcircumference, said auger includes two identical halves on oppositesides of the longitudinal plane of said auger, connecting means on saidhalves for securing them together, the longitudinal plane between saidauger halves being coplanar with the radial plane of said impellers anddividing each of said impellers into two parts, and said connectingmeans extending between said impeller parts for securing said augerhalves together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,233,395 2/1966 Dahl et al.198217 2,642,680 6/1953 Curtis et al. 3753 2,735,199 2/1956 Wanner et al3743 2,768,453 10/1956 Adams 3753 D. 190,433 5/1961 Williamson 37-433,253,356 5/1966 Haban 3743 3,359,661 12/1967 Speiser et al. 3743 ROBERTE. PULFREY, Primary Examiner EUGENE H. EICKHOLT, Assistant Examiner US.01. X.R.

